BURIED

About

Myths have their origins in the rich tapestry of human storytelling and cultural expression, emerging from our experience of societies throughout history. Sometimes they try to explain the unknown, arising from attempts to explain natural phenomena, such as the origins of the universe and the changing seasons, providing a framework for understanding the world in the absence of scientific knowledge. From a moral and cultural perspective, myths can convey values, teaching lessons and serving as a means of passing down ethical guidelines, societal norms, and the wisdom of previous generations. These stories often help us cope with uncertainty, and navigate the complexities of life.

Despite the vast diversity of cultures and their respective mythologies Joseph Campbell theorises within ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’ that there exists a common structure that underlies all heroic tales. This structure consists of a series of stages and archetypal characters that the hero encounters throughout their journey. Campbell distilled this universal narrative pattern into a monomyth, a template that serves as a blueprint for storytelling. From monolithic deities to remnants of the journey and diminutive relics of battle, the artists exhibiting in BURIED depict stages of the monomyth or the hero’s journey. These moments, alongside the symbolism of Jungian psychology, allow the artists in this exhibition to explore the depths of the collective unconscious, tapping into primal fears, desires, and archetypal motifs.